Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-07
CATARRH.

THE TERM CATARRH is APPLIED TO
i peculiar disorder of the nost,ils and
adjacent parts, which prevails TO an alarm
ing extent and is productive Of very serious
The most prominent and chara cteristic
feature is a morbid discharge from the
head, varying In its nature at different
times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
Of clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
or muco-purulent, greenish-y yellow
matter is secreted, which accumulates in
The nostrils or drops into the throat, neces-
nose or expectoration. and often by both
processes. Som netimes patients feel as
though their whole head wos in a state of
rottenness, so great Is the amount OF matter
and SO fetid is its odor. The
patient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the morbid mat
ter from the head, and as afeoum bent posi-
ton naturally favors the flow downward,
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie
with the head very much elevated in order
to sleep with some degree of comfort.
In others tough. viscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the throat
and head, adhearing to the parts with glu-
ish tenacity. Its lodgment embarrasses
respiration and creates a sens ,tion OF irri
tation and uneasiness in the affected local
ity, which gives rise to constant and al
most irresistible desire to relieve the dis
comfort by drawing the mucus into the
throat so as to eject it by the mouth. This
practice, popularly known as hawking"
Is characteristic OF catarrh, and proves as
embarrassing to the one affected as it is
disagreeable to those around him.
Again, the offensive matter hardeus and
deposits itself on the membrane in the
81 ape of dry, hard concretions, which are
discharged by way of the nostrils or throat
in Jumps or fragments of deep green tint.
In some cases these incrustatiuns accumu-
late to such an extent as to form a regular
plug in the nose, which obstructs breathing
ly do these incrustati0ns adhere to the
point of attachment that their removal
usually requires the most violent efforts;
not unfre9uenily 7, ey have to be torn from
OF notable size is expelled, on which there
are generally traces of blood, but III some
cases the cast presents tubular appear.
ance. being of exact shape of the nasal
ceration. which. in time, may destroy the
bony st. ucture of the nose and produce q
subsequent flattening of that organ.
Gases are occasionally met with in which
mem brane of the nssal cavities and then
putrifes, giving rise to a stencil which Is
really Overpowering and sufficiently fetid to
poison the atmosphere of whole room;
and there are others in which all the secre-
lions of the membrane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling OF dryness, heat
aud feverishness in the head and nose-a
condition popularity known as DRY Ca
tarrh.''
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities of the bones OF the forehead and
face, giving rise to distressing sensation
of h avy weight or compression over the
forehead, especially in the region above
and between the eyes. and 10 n feeling of
fulness, heat irritati IN, soreness or pain in
the nostr1ls near the root OF the nose as
well as in the upper part of the throat,
above and behind the soft palate. Some.
times there is pain obstinately fixed in some
particular part, as in the temple, on the top
of the head, at the back of the neck, or be-
hind the Orbids, and occasionally pain
manifests itself In the face of so severe a
character that 1t is frequently mistaken for
neuralgia.
The breath is always tainted and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases 1t becomes so revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object OF disgust to himself as well as to
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
congested, causing the nose to be stopped
up, sometimes on one side sometime on the
other, and often on both, giving rise TO a
uisagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head.
and occasioning violent and PROLONGED
paroxysms OF sneezing.
The voice is weak. indistinct and husky
or of nasal charac -er, di playing a sort of
shifting quality. Oftentimes there is a con-
tfnuous hoarseness and discordance. There
is also sense of irritation in the throat,
and frequent attempts to clear the parts of
phlegm. producing the sound 'hem" more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
complain of an uncomfortable feeling of
fullness, or choky ensation in the throat,
and in others of a distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief
OF which they have to swallow frequently.
Others, again, speak of r. constant bad or
nauseous taste in the mouth or throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or
Incao n han sw.rt l.
appetite is capricious and nearly always
Dad in the morning The patient is Ian
euid, unable to perform mental or physical
labor with the usual facility, is nervous, de-
agitated and inclined to drowsiness and
sleep, the memory weakened and perma-
nent impairment seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
ences. and Ia spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, so
that at last breath Of wind upon the lining
of the no.e or throat becomes productive OF
ances of the respiratory organs. Thus the
patient is subject to frequent and repeated
colds. each attack aggfavating the disease
by giving 1t new impulse and involving a
larger extent or surface .h than It's predecessor
organ to organ, invading the throat, larnyx.
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
croaching further and further. IL reaches
tne nneI IaHincations OF the DfOnch1, when
but slight impulse is required to send il
to the lungs. Catarrh may, and often does.
affect other organs in the body, especially
those containing mucous membrane. such
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employm ent of proper inhslations
in the form OF medicated vapor (not steam
or spray we are able to produce immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
IN the pharynx and mas i passages, for air
Will find its way into the most remote and
Intricate cavities, where 1t is utterly impos-
sible to make fluid applications. BY these
means every case can be cured.
OZENA.
Oz9na Is the professional or technical
name given to an advanced form of catarrh
In which liberation has eaten through the
mem brane lining OF the nose to the carti-
lage of the bone. ANY case of catarrh may
end In cz9na, but 1t most frequently occurs
IN those who are naturally scrofnlous The
discharge takes place through the nostrils
Or through the throat. and Is generally of a
yellowish or greenish yellow Color fre-
lueDtly tinged with blood and almost al.
ways attended by an offensive smell. In the
language of DR.. Wood, of Philadelphia,
and disagreeable which the physician has
10 encounter. In bad cases the breath OF the
patient becomes SO revolving as to isolate
him from society and to render him an OBJ
ect of disgust even to himself" In some
,ases pieces of bone become separated and
dough off, leaving deep. unhealthy ulcers.
which secrete a bloody matter, and are ex.
remeiy difficult to heal. After tzena has
continued some time the sense of smell
Usually becomes impaired and often lost.
Dea fness is one of its most common conse.
luenc,s, and results from its extension
through the eustachian n tubes to the internal
'ar. Pains in the head and over the frontal
inuses, impairing memory. and even in.
anity frequently spring from its extension
o the brain. The greatest danger. how
ver. because the most common, Is that it
will extend down ward and affect the lungs
n most cases of pulmonary disease catarrh
$ present In some degree, and In many in
tances 1t causes large share of the ps.
ient's discomfort.
Besides these grave consequences, all of
which are liable to sp-iDg from scrofulous
atarrh or ozGna, there are others which, if
ess dangerous, are sufficiently unpleasant
t occasions great unhappiness to thousands
I both sexes, by. isolating them and pre-
enting their settlement In life An often.
i've running from the nose, with foul
reath. is about as great calamity as can
efali young people.ifor no yong person
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